Google and Microsoft are ending their long-running patent war.
And just like that, another epic patent war is coming to an end. Google and Microsoft have dropped all the lawsuits (all 20!) they have filed against each other, ending their five-year dispute over… everything! From mobile phones (Microsoft’s main complaint), to video playback on the Xbox (Google’s, and previously Motorola’s complaint).
The two will now be partners on both the technology side as a whole and on “certain patent matters,” such as creating a royalty-free video format that would prevent such disputes. The truce is undoubtedly a relief, especially if you’re tired of seeing them back and forth on the couch. However, the move doesn’t come as a shock, especially if you’ve been following the company’s culture.
You see, Microsoft is currently in a very different position than it was when it first sued Motorola in 2010. At the time, the company, under the leadership of Steve Ballmer, who, while struggling with Android development, was trying to give Windows Phone a strong push in order to re-establish a Windows' desktop monopoly.
Coming to the company's current position, with CEO Satya Nadella, we see a different story. He is less interested in operating system dominance (partly because that is no longer a realistic goal) and puts Microsoft's apps and services first, even if that means supporting Android instead of Windows.
It should be noted that Google no longer faces as many threats as it used to. In any case, the heated controversy that fueled the lawsuits has begun to cool.
